Philip



Aug. 29, 1961 PH|| |P 2,997,865

METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING Filed Dec. 18, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR,

Morris Philip BY L40- A TTOKNEY METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING Filed Dec. 18, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 f/ 35 45 g! L) 36 /Z 46 M INVENTOR,

Morris Philz' BY 4 f I A TTOFNE Y Aug. 29, 1961 M. PHILIP 2,997,865

METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING Filed Dec. 18, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 lwlunun' IN V EN TOR,

Mrra Philip A TTOENEY Aug. 29, 1961 PHlLlP METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 18, 1956 llII INVENTOR. M12117 Philip Y 2.41 1

A T TOENEY ire rates The present invention relates to methods of and apparatus for knitting and more particularly to methods of and apparatus for transferring yarn loops from the needles of one needle bank to the needles of an opposed needle bank. The invention includes the production of eyelet stitches which may be produced in spaced apart patterns and also the provision of a sinker action when the needles of the opposed needle banks are in direct opposition.

In conventional knitting using opposed banks of independently mounted longitudinally reciprocable needles, it is frequently desired to transfer the yarn loops from the needles of one of the needle banks to the needles of an opposed needle bank. Thus, when needles of the opposed needle banks cooperate in the production of rib knit fabric, the yarn loops on the needles of one of the needle banks are transferred to the previously inoperative needles of the opposed needle bank so that the opposed needle bank can proceed alone in the production of jersey fabric. This is normally performed using a needle having a sidewardly curved clip and requires that the needles of the opposed banks be staggered with respect to one another. As will later more fully appear and as will be understood by those skilled in the art, the use of staggered needles in the opposed needle banks leads to certain advantages and disadvantages in knitting.

More particularly, when knitting rib, the opposed operative needles must be centered with respect to one another to avoid a lined appearance in the knitted product. However, when the needles are centered, they cannot transfer because the operative needles on the bank from which it is desired to remove the yarn loops are directly opposed by the previously inoperative needles of the other needle bank which are intended to receive the transferred yarn loop. An advantage of staggered opposed needles is the fact that the needles of the inoperative needle bank can be projected in advance of the projection of the needles of the operative needle bank and withdrawn before they can interfere with the knitting operation to assist the needles of the operative needle bank in the knitting of jersey fabric. This will be understood from the fact that the use of opposed needle banks generally precludes the use of sinkers and the staggered needles of the opposed inoperative needle bank, when projected, can provide a sinker function by holding the knitted product down and preventing the knitted fabric from sticking to the operating needles and from being carried for-Ward with the operating needles upon projection thereof.

The best available transfer machines are thus provided with racking means so that one of the needle banks may be laterally moved (racked) a distance equal to one-half the distance between adjacent needles. In this way, rib knitting can be performed with directly opposed needles using alternating needles. When the rib section is completed, one of the needle banks is racked to stagger the needles and the transfer of yarn loops is then effected.

Jersey is then knit using the inoperative staggered needles ,stss

to knit rib and after a single course for the sinker acting needles to pick up yarn loops, the rack is again performed so that a proper rib knit can be produced. It will, of course, be appreciated that the conversion from jersey to rib knitting is normally accompanied by a series of knitting courses to prevent running and permit separation. This will be later discussed at greater length.

As will be understood racking complicates the knitting machine by the inolusion of means for moving one of the needle banks an exact predetermined distance, first in one direction, and later in the other direction. Of even greater importance in circular knitting machines is the fact that the conventional transfer operation is extremely slow in comparison with the speeds at which the machine can function when it is knitting. Thus, while knitting may be performed at 20 or more revolutions per minute, a safe transfer operation normally requires that the machine be slowed to about 5 revolutions per minute. Since it is obviously disadvantageous to waste the high speed knitting capacity, the machines are equipped with speed reduction means so that the machine can be automatically slowed to 5 r.p.m. for transfer and then speeded to 20 rpm. for knitting. This still further complicates the equipment required for knitting.

The present invention provides a new transfer procedure which, in the preferred form of the invention, can be effected at high speeds matching the knitting speed and which also eliminates the necessity of racking to enable the conversion from rib knitting to plain or jersey knitting when the needles are directly opposed. This is achieved by providing for the transfer of yarn loops by a procedure in which the yarn loop is first removed from the needles by plates surrounding the same and then effecting the transfer from these plates to a directly opposed needle of the cooperating needle bank. Moreover, the transfer of yarn loops to directly opposing needles without racking is accompanied by the ability to employ a sinker action to improve the jersey knitting operation. Still further, the transfer mechanism of the invention can be additionally used for the production of eyelet stitches and these stitches can be made in spaced apart patterns. Moreover, if racking mechanism is present, the transfer mechanism can function to knit eyelets and transfer.

In accordance with the invention the sides of the knitting needle are surrounded by at least one and preferably by a pair of plates which are formed with points engaging the sides of the forward end of needle, said points diverging sidewardly to an upstanding shoulder which extends above the hook of the needle and which are laterally spaced from the needle. Accordingly, when the needle is projected to cause the yarn loop to drop off the latch, the plate or plates can be projected so that the loop is spread by the diverging point or points and the loop is engaged by the upstanding shoulder or shoulders. If only a single plate is used, the yarn loop can be tranferred to a staggered needle in conventional fashion. However, and in accordance with preferred practice of the invention, two side plates are used and the yarn loop is removed from the needle carrying the same and is engaged and spread by the points of both plates. The opposed needle can then be projected through the space between the plates and behind the shoulders thereof and the plates can then be retracted to 3 complete the transfer of a yarn loop to the directly opposed needle. Moreover, by suitably timed projection and retraction of at least one and preferably both of the side plates, these plates can function as sinkers to assist in and improve the production of jersey fabric.

The invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description which follows taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the conventional manner of converting from rib knitting to the knitting of plain or jersey fabric;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrating the centered position which must be employed for the proper knitting of rib fabric and also the problem of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of an illustrative knitting needle constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevation of the needle of FIG. 3 on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation showing a preferred illustrative transfer plate constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the transfer plate of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a partial side elevation on an enlarged scale and showing the transfer plates in operative association with a knitting needle, the transfer plates being shown in their fully retracted position with respect to the knitting needle:

FIG. 9 is a cross-section taken on the line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the transfer plates in operative association with the needle as shown in FIG. 8:

FIG. 11 is a top plan view similar to that shown in FIG. 10 but illustrating the fully projected position of the transfer plates with respect to the knitting needle:

FIGS. 12l8 illustrate sequentially the transfer of a yarn loop from a dial needle to a directly opposed cylinder needle;

FIG. 12 is a partial sectional elevation showing the transfer plates in their normally retracted position in the needle channel and showing the dial needle at the start of its projection;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 and showing the dial needle fully projected and the start of the projection of the transfer plates;

FIG. 14 is a further view similar to FIG. 12 and showing the transfer plates in their fullv nroiected position;

FIG. 14A is a top plan view of FIG. 14;

FIG. 15 is a further view similar to FIG. 12 and showing the dial needle as it moves rearwardly to retract the same;

FIG. 16 is a still further view similar to FIG. 12 and showing the dial needle in its fully retracted position;

FIG. 17 is another view similar to FIG. 12 and showing the directly opposed cylinder needle fully projected throusrh the spread yarn loop on the transfer plates;

FIG. 18 is still another view similar to FIG. 12 and showing the transfer plates being retracted and the yarn loop transferred to the directly opposed cylinder needle;

FIGS. 19-21 show sequentially the manner in which the transfer plates of the invention can be employed to provide a sinker action despite the fact that the needles of the cooperating needle bank are directly opposed so that the needles of both of these banks cannot be simultaneously projected;

FIG. 19 is a partial side elevation in section showing the transfer plates projected;

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 19 and showing the cylinder needles being projected and illustrating the manner in which the transfer plates function to hold down the knitted product;

FIG. 21 is a further view similar to FIG. 19 and showing the transfer plates retracted as the fresh yarn is supplied to the projected cylinder needle;

FIGS. 2225 and 22A-25A are sectional views illustrating schematically the production of eyelet stitches and the simultaneous production of a single course of jersey fabric depending upon the length of the points of the transfer plates;

FIG. 26 is a plan view illustrating the manner in which the points of the various pairs of plates may be of varying length for the production of complex patterns containing eyelet stitches set in a background of jersey fabric.

FIG. 27 is a partial side elevation showing a modified needle and transfer plate combination in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 28 is a. top plan view of the needle and transfer plate combination shown in FIG. 27.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 schematically illustrates conventional transfer knitting using opposed banks of needles in which the needles of each bank are staggered with respect to the needles of the opposed bank. Thus, the numeral 10 designates the dial and 1 1 designates the cylinder of a conventional circular knitting machine. As will be seen the dial needles 12 and 18 are staggered with respect to the cylinder needles 13 and 14- so that the needles of each needle bank, when projected, will fall between the needles of the opposed needle bank. The numeral 15 designates combing on the cylinder 11. said combing cooperating with the cylinder needles 1,3 and 14 in the production of jersey fabric.

The numeral 16 designates a yarn which has been rib knit by the needles 12 and '13. It will be observed that a 1 x 1 rib knit is indicated and that this rib knit is not as desirable as it could be because the needles 1?. are not centered between the operating needles 13. n order to correct this. either the dial or the cylinder mu t be moved laterallv to rack the needles into proper centered relation. After centering, a proper rib knit can be produced. However, the properly centered needles are directly opposed to one another so that both sets of needles cannot be simultaneously projected. This centered position can be seen in FIG. 2 where the satisfactory rib knit is identified by the numeral 16 and the direct opposition of the opposed needles in the racked position is apparent.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the dial needles 12 are provided with a curved clip 19 at one side thereof so that the yarn loops on the dial needles 12 can be transferred to the cylinder needles 14 which were inoperative during the rib knitting operation, the transfer being indicated by the arrows 20. As will be understood, this conventional transfer is effected by the projection of the needles 12 until the loop is spread by the curved clip 19, which projects from a side of the needles 12, and the area 21 at the rear of the clip 19 overlies the needle 14. The needle 14 is then projected into the space between the needle 12 and the clip 19 behind the yarn loop and the needle 12 is retracted to complete the transfer.

The needles 13 and 14 then work together to produce, in cooperation with the combing 15, a jersey knit fabric. As will now be apparent, conventional knitting of rib and jersey fabrics on a conventional transfer machine requires that the needles be racked in one direction to center the needles for rib knitting and that, when the rib section is completed, the needles be racked in the opposite direction to stagger the needles to permit transfer and subsequent jersey or plain knitting. In the staggered position, the dial needles 12 and 18 can be partially advanced to provide a sinker action for the cylinder needles 13 and 14 to assist them in the production of jersey fabric. This is the only purpose served by the needles L8 and aside from this purpose they can be eliminated. Actually, the needles 18 are not essential to the sinker action since this can be effectively achieved by the needles 12 alone.

FIG. 2 illustrates the problem of the invention. As can be seen the needles 12 are directly opposite the needles 14. Accordingly, while the needles 12 are properly centered with respect to the needles 13 to permit the satisfactory knitting of a rib knitted fabric, the yarn loops on the needles 12 cannot be transferred in conventional manner to the directly opposite needles 14 so that jersey fabric can be produced as indicated at 17. As will be clear, the desired transfer action is indicated by the arrows 22. Further, and assuming the transfer of yarn loops from the needles 12 to the needles 14, the needles 12 cannot be projected while the needles 13 and 14 are knitting jersey because the needle 12 will strike the needle 14. Accordingly, the needles 12 cannot serve as sinkers to improve the production of jersey fabric.

Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for effecting the transfer 22, e.g. the transfer of a yarn loop from a needle of one needle bank to a directly opposing needle of a cooperating needle bank. A further and important objective of the invention is to enable a sinker action to be achieved despite the fact that the needles of the cooperating needle banks are in direct opposition and despite the absence of separate sinker means.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a preferred needle constructed in accordance with the invention. This needle is designated by the numeral 30 and includes a body or shank 31, an upstanding needle butt 32, a forward portion 33 of reduced elevation leading to a conventional hook 34 and a latch 35. The forward portion 33 of the needle 30 leads to the body portion 31 which is of greater elevation, and a sidewardly extending rib 36 projects away from the needle 30 at the intersection be tween the body 31 and the forward portion 33.

The same needle 30 is shown on an enlarged scale in FIG. 4 where the rib 36 can be more clearly seen. This rib 36 is best seen in the cross-sectional view contained in FIG. 5 Where it can be seen that the needle 30 preferably is provided with a nb 36 projected sidewardly on both sides of the needle.

The transfer plates of the invention are illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 where a preferred plate is shown. The transfer plate is generically designated by the numeral 40 and is preferably constructed of a thin spring steel plate. As can be seen, the transfer plate 40 includes a body portion 41 on which is provided an upstanding butt 42 whereby the transfer plate 40 can be reciprocated independently of the needle 34!. The body portion 41 of the transfer plate 41 leads to a section 43 of reduced elevation which in turn leads to a sidewardly projecting or bent portion 44 which is provided with an upstanding shoulder 45. As can be seen particularly in FIG. 7, the forward surface of the upstanding shoulder 4-5 is connected with the sidewardly projecting portion 44 at a point laterally spaced fromthe longitudinal axis of the transfer plate.

Extending forwardly of the shoulder 45 is a point indicated generically by the numeral 46. This point constitutes the forward extremity of the transfer plates 40. As can be seen particularly in FIG. 7, the rearward portion of the point 4 6 is bent sidewardly toward the shoulder 45, this sidewardly bent portion of the point 46 being designated 47.

FIGS. 8, 9 and show the transfer plate 4b and the needle 30 on a greatly enlarged scale in their normal position with respect to one another, said normal posi tion representing the retracted position of the transfer plate 44). As will be seen particularly in FIGS. 8 and 10, the body portion 41 underlies the rib 36 on the needle 30. it will be appreciated that both the needle 3t) and the transfer plate 40 are mounted for sliding movement in the same needle channel. Accordingly, the rib 36 bears downwardly upon the upper surface of the body portion 41 of the transfer plate 40 and thereby prevents the point 46 of the transfer plate 40 from rising upwardly with respect to the needle 30.

In accordance with the invention, there are preferably employed a pair of transfer plates 40, one on either side of the needle 30, as can be best seen in FIG. 10. As will later more fully appear, the section 43 of the transfer plate 40 is sufficiently long to permit projection of the transfer plates 40 with respect to the needle 30 so that the transfer plate 40 may assume the projected position shown in FIG. 11. As will later more fully appear, the position shown in FIG. 11 enables the yarn loop to be transferred and also permits eyelet stitches to be produced (the production of eyelet stitches requires a staggered needle positioning as will be more fully explained hereinafter).

Referring more particularly to FIG. 11, it will be seen that the relative forward motion of the transfer plates 40 has projected these plates beyond the forward extremity of the needle 3%) whereby the bent portions. 44 as well as the outwardly curved portion 47 form an opening between the forward extremities of the transfer plates 40 which is capable of receiving an opposed needle or, if eyelet production is. desired, a space capable of receiving a pair of adjacent opposed needles.

It will also lbe seen that the points 46 are unconnected so that, after an opposed needle has been thrust through the opening 50, the retraction of the transfer plates 49 can be effected while the opposed needle extends through the opening 50. It will particularly be observed that the opening 50* includes a region which is directly in front of the needle 30 so that, and as will later more fully appear, a transfer can be effected from the needle 30 to a directly opposed needle.

Now that the structure of a preferred needle in accordance with the invention and also the construction of a preferred transfer plate in accordance with the invention have been disclosed, the manner in which a trans fer can be achieved to a directly opposed needle will be explained in detail and with reference to FIGS. l218.

As will be aprreciated and as is shown particularly in FIG. 14A, the transfer plates 40 are interposed on opposite sides of the knitting needles which are positioned in alternate channels on the dial. Thus, the transfer plates are interposed between the needle and the needle channel and the needle channel forces the transfer plates into sliding engagement with the needle. The transfer plates are preferably slightly curved so that the body of the transfer plate arches away from the needle when the ends of the transfer plates are adjacent the needle. This curvature is substantially eliminated when the transfer plates are forced together with the needle into the needle channel. The forward end of the needle channel is widened to receive the sidewardly projecting portions 44 of the transfer plates and also the rib 36 of the needle.

The transfer action of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 12-18 where the transfer of a yarn loop is illustrated from a dial needle 12 to 2. directly opposed cylinder needle 14 (see FIG. 2).

In FIG. 12 the dial needle 12 is shown in its fully retracted position with transfer plates 40 positioned at both sides thereof. The transfer plates 40 are shown in their normal position which is sufficiently retracted in the needle channel 51 to prevent the plates 40 from interfering with the dial needle 12 as this needle engages in rib knitting. The transfer plates 40 are normally retained immobile during rib knitting.

In FIG. 13, the dial needle 12 has been projected sufiiciently to cause the loop L to drop oil? the latch 35 and to cause the rib 36 to project beyond the cylinder 16) to spread the loop L to permit the points 46 to enter the loops. FIG. 13 also shows the start of the transfer plate projection, the points 46 of the plates 40 having been projected sufliciently to be thrust through the loop L adjacent the sides of the needle 12.

It will be appreciated at this point that the needle 12 which is pictured in the drawing is simply illustrative and many variations can be made. Thus, the rib 36 may be modified in shape to include an abutting shoulder to catch the yarn loop L and prevent this loop from riding rearwardly over the needle 12 past the rib 36 thereon.

In FIG. 14, the transfer plates have been fully projected. During this projection, the loop L has moved reanvardly along the curved portions 47 of the transfer plates to spread the loop and the spread loop has been engaged by the upstanding shoulders and forced forwardly by the same. As will be understood, the transfer plates 40 have been thrust forwardly so that the rear of the opening overlies the directly opposed cylinder needle 14. The needle 12 is then retracted as shown in FIG. 15 to a position in which the needle 12 is clear of the path of the needle 14 as shown in FIG. 16. The yarn loop L remains caught on the upstanding shoulders 45 of the transfer plates 40.

The cylinder needle 14 is then projected through the opening 50 between the bent portions 44 of the transfer plates 40 as shown in FIG. 17 and the transfer plates 40 can then be retracted to leave the loop L on the cylinder needle 14- as shown in FIG. 18.

It will be understood that the transfer operation depicted in FIGS. 1218 is simply illustrative and many variations therein may be performed. For example, the projection of the transfer plates may be performed while the needle 12 is retracting so long as the points 46 are sufficiently projected to receive the yarn loop which is knitted off by the retracting needle when the needle 12 is retracted sufficiently to drop the yarn loop. In other words, the transfer plates 40 may be projected as the needle 12 is retracted and the precise timing is a matter of choice.

Referring again to FIG. 2, it will be observed that the first primary problem of the invention which is the transfer of a yarn loop from the dial needles 12 to a directly opposed cylinder needle 14 as indicated by the arrows 22, has been accomplished. The second problem which is the provision of a sinker action to assist the cylinder needles 13 and 14 in the production of jersey fabric still remains. This sinker action can be provided with the transfer plates of the invention as is illustrated in FIGS. 19-21.

In achieving a sinker action, the needle 12 is retained in its retracted position and the transfer plates 40 are projected prior to projection of the cylinder needle 14.

The transfer plates 40 are first projected sufliciently to position the opening 50 of the plates 46 directly above the cylinder needle 14 (FIG. 19) so that the cylinder needle can then be projected through the opening 50 (FIG. 20). As can be seen in FIG. 20, the yarn loop L cannot stick to the hook of the needle 14 because of the presence of the plates 40 adjacent the sides of the needle 14. After the needle 14 has been projected and before fresh yarn is supplied thereto, the transfer plates 40 are retracted (FIG. 21) to permit the needle 14 to knit in conventional manner. As will be understood. the needles 13 and 14 are both used in plain knitting and the presence of the transfer plates 40 between the needles 13 and 14 as these are projected prevents the yarn loops from sticking to the hooks of either of the needles 13 or 14.

The automatic knitting of sweaters having a rib bottom and a jersey body on a high speed circular knitting machine which does not include racking mechanism or speed-reducing mechanism will now be described.

Let us assume that all of the cylinder needles are operating to produce the jersey body, all of the dial needles being held retracted in inoperative position. As previously indicated, the dial needles are directly opposite alternate cylinder needles and a sinker action is provided by fully projecting the transfer plates before the cylinder needles are projected. Therefore, when the cylinder needles are projected, the fabric being knitted will be pressed down and a sinker action provided. As soon as the cylinder needle is projected, the transfer plates are retracted. This sinker action is not indispensible but jersey fabric can be knitted more reliably when a sinker action is provided.

When the jersey body is completed, the dial needles are projected together with every other cylinder needle just as in ordinary rib production and yarn is supplied to these projected needles. During the next course of knitting, the dial needles remain retracted with yarn loops caught thereon. Preferably, several, e.g. three courses of knitting are performed in this manner to prevent the fabric from running when the separating knit-off follows.

After sevenal courses have been knitted using the cylinder needles only, a further course is knitted using a separating or pull thread. Every other cylinder needle and the dial needles are projected to receive the pull thread. After the pull thread has been knitted, all of the cylinder needles are projected and retracted in the absence of a fresh yarn to cause the cylinder needles to knit off the yarn loops thereon (this being the separating knit-off referred to above) so that the knitted product is removed from the cylinder needles and remains hooked onto the dial needles. After this is done, the dial needles together with every other cylinder needle are projected and yarn is supplied in normal rib knitting fashion and this is continued to produce the rib bottom of the next sweater.

When the rib bottom has been completed, the yarn loops on the dial needles are transferred to the directly opposed cylinder needles which were held inoperative during rib production using the transfer plates as has been previously described in detail. Since this transfer action is extremely rapid, there is no need to slow the machine at any time and a circular knitting machine operating as above described, can produce sweaters having a rib bottom and a jersey body automatically and at high operating speeds which are continuously maintained.

It is desired to point out that the above described sequence for completing the jersey body and starting the rib bottom of the next sweater is conventional and it is simply desired to emphasize that this conventional sequence can be utilized when the needles of the cooperating needle banks are in direct opposition.

It should now be appreciated that the invention includes the provision of highly simplified circular knitting machines which are capable of automatically producing sweaters having a rib bottom and a jersey body at high speeds despite the absence in these simplified machines or racking means and of speed-change mechanism.

The size of the opening 50 formed between the transfer plates 40 is a matter of some importance. In order to effect the transfer operation, the opening 50 between the transfer plates 40 need only be sufficiently wide to permit the easy reception of a single cylinder needle. While such an opening is adequate for transfer purposes, it is not sufficiently wide to permit the production of eyelets for when eyelets are produced, it is necessary that the opening between the transfer plates be sufiiciently wide to simultaneously receive a pair of adjacent cylinder needles (when the opposed needles are staggered). However, if the opening between the transfer plates is large enough for eyelet production, it will be obvious that these plates cannot be fully projected when all of the cylinder needles are operating.

Accordingly, if it is desired to transfer to a directly opposed needle with an opening between the transfer plates of sufiicient width to accommodate a pair of adjacent cylinder needles, then there is a distinct possibility that the alternate cylinder needles will strike the transfer plates. Accordingly, in achieving this transfer to a dir'ectly opposed needle, the alternate cylinder needles must be maintained in retracted position during the transfer to prevent these needles from striking the transfer plates.

As previously indicated, when only a transfer operation is desired, the opening between the transfer plates can be narrower and, in such instance, it is not essential that alternate cylinder needles be maintained retracted during the transfer operation.

When the knitting machine includes racking means, the transfer plates 40 can be provided with an opening 50 sufficiently large to receive a pair of adjacent cylinder needles so that eyelet stitches can be produced. While the knitting sequence for eyelet production is itself conventional, this sequence will be briefly described to facilitate an understanding of the manner in which eyelet stitches are produced in spaced apart patterns, this being a feature of the present invention.

As previously indicated, in the production of eyelet sttiches, the needles of the opposed needle banks are staggered with respect to one another so that all of the needles could be projected should this be desired. As a first step in the eyelet knitting sequence, all of the cylinder needles are projected and receive fresh yarn. The points of the transfer plates are then projected beneath the yarn as the cylinder needles are restricted. These points act in the manner of combing and the yarn loop is drawn by the cylinder needles against the combing action of the points.

The retraction of the cylinder needles is continued until the knit-off position is reached. After the cylinder needles have moved beneath the transfer plates, these transfer plates are further projected to force the yarn loop forwardly and to spread this loop as the loop moves rearwardly over the outwardly curved portions of the points until it engages the shoulders on the transfer plates. The cylinder needles are then projected again and a pair of cylinder needles underlying a given pair of transfer plates move upwardly through the opening 50 and through the spread yarn loop. This upward movement of the cylinders needles is continued until the heads of the cylinder needles are above the transfer plates. In other words, the cylinder needles are projected to a tuck position or less.

The transfer plates are then retracted to transfer the spread yarn loop onto the pair of adjacent cylinder needles which have entered the opening 50 and the eyelet stitch is thereupon completed.

From the above it will be appreciated that since all of the dial needles 12 are surrounded by transfer plates 40 to permit transfer of a yarn loop from the needles 12 to the cylinder needles 14 to enable conversion from rib knitting to jersey knitting, that if the opening Sil between the transfer plates 40 is sufiiciently large to receive a pair of adjacent cylinder needles when the cylinder needles are staggered with respect to the dial needles, eyelet stitches can be produced in a machine capable of automatically converting from rib to jersey knitting.

It should be understood that in order to produce both centered rib knitting and eyelet stitches, the cooperating needle banks must be laterally moved or racked a dis tance equal to one-half the distance between adjacent needles on the cylinder. If the knitting machine does not include racking mechanism, then this machine can either produce a centered rib or eyelet stitches but it is not simultaneously adapted to produce both. Accordingly, if racking mechanism is absent,.either the production of eyelet stitches or the centering of the rib fabric must be sacrificed. If the racking mechanism is present so that rib knitting can be produced with a centered needle position while jersey fabric can be produced with a staggered needle position, such a machine can produce .both centered rib fabric and eyelet stitches.

It is desired to point out that the production of a full course of eyelet stitches is a matter of only limited utility and it is desired that the jersey fabrics which are knitted contain eyelet stitches in spaced apart patterns. This raises a problem because the producion of eyelet stitches in spaced apart patterns requires that means he provided to cause the selective production of eyelet stitches despite the fact that all of the transfer plates and all of the cylinder needles are operated identically.

In accordance with the present invention, eyelet stitches are produced in predetermined patterns by varying the length of the points 46 of the transfer plates 40 on the various dial needles 12. As will be understood and as will more fully be discussed hereinafter, the production of eyelet stitches requires that the points of the transfer plates catch the fresh yarn and function as combing during the first retraction of the cylinder needles. If the points 46 of the transfer plates 40 are too short to reach the yarn, then an eyelet stitch will not be produced despite the fact that the transfer plates are later fully projected in the operation of completing the eyelet stitches. The production of eyelet stitches on only some of the cylinder needles while the remaining cylinder needles continue to produce ordinary jersey fabric is illustrated in FIGS. 22-25 and 22A-25A.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 22 and 22A, these figures respectively show an early stage in the knitting of eyelets and the same stage in the knitting sequence of cylinder needles which are opposite transfer plates which are not teifective to cause an eyelet stitch to be produced despite the fact that all of the cylinder needles are moving identically and despite the further fact that all of the transfer plates are moved identically.

It will first be observed that the points 46" in FIG. 22 are longer than the normally sized points 46 in FIG. 22A. It is this difference in length which permits the transfer plates 40 in FIG. 22 to knit an eyelet stitch while the equally projected transfer plates 40 in FIG. 22A are not effective for this purpose.

FIGS. 22 and 22A show the transfer plates projected to an intermediate position and the cylinder needles are retracting after having received a fresh yarn. This fresh yarn is designated Y in FIG. 22 and Y in FIG. 22A. It will also be observed that the previous yarn loop L in both FIGS. 22 and 22A have been cast off beneath the latch during the reception of fresh yarn Y or Y.

In FIGS. 23 and 23A the cylinder needles have been retracted to a knit-off position and the transfer plates 40 and 40' are fully projected so that the opening between the transfer plates overlies a pair of adjacent cylinder needles. In FIG. 23, the yarn loop Y has been caught on the points 46. Accordingly, when the cylinder needles are retracted a long loop has been formed with the points 46' acting as combing. It will also be seen in FIG. 23 that the loop L has been knit off and that the full projection of the transfer plates 40" has caused this long loop to be spread and forced forwardly by the shoulders 45.

As will be understood, a pair of adjacent cylinder needles are positioned beneath the opening between the transfer plates 40'. In FIG. 23A, the transfer plates 40 have also been fully projected and the cylinder needles have been retracted to the knit-off position. However, since the points 46 failed to catch the fresh yarn Y, the cylinder needles underlying the transfer plates 40 have proceeded with their normal plain knitting function and the loop L has been knit off in conventional manner.

In FIGS. 24 and 24A, the cylinder needles have now been projected to a tuck position. As will be seen in FIG. 24, a pair of adjacent cylinder needles is now within the opening between a pair of transfer plates 40 and these cylinder needles project through the long loop formed by the yarn Y. At the same time in FIG. 24A, the cylinder needles are projected to a tuck position and it will be particularly observed that the loop formed by the yarn Y has not been cast off beneath the latch.

In FIGS. 25 and 25A, the transfer plates have been retracted. In FIG. 25, the yarn loop Y has been transferred to the pair of adjacent cylinder needles whereas in l 1 FIG. A, no transfer has occurred because the transfer plates contain no yarn to transfer. As will now be appreciated, when the cylinder needles are retracted, the yarn loop Y in the sequence of FIGS. 22, 23, 24 and 25 will be caught in the hooks of a pair of adjacent cylinder needles whereas the cylinder needles which proceeded through the sequence of FIGS. 22A, 23A, 24A and 25A contain a normal size yarn loop Y caught in the hooks of each of the needles. Accordingly, at the conclusion of the eyelet knitting sequence, the cylinder needles which went through the sequence of FIGS. 22A-25A will have knitted a single course of normal plain or jersey fabric.

It will be understood that variation in the length of the points 46 has been entirely responsible for the selection of which cylinder needles will produce an eyelet stitch and which will produce a conventional plain stitch. It will also be understood that the transfer plates need not contain simply some long and some short points but may instead contain points of various lengths so that the eyelet stitches may be produced in various patterns. Thus, in FIG. 26 the center dial needle 12 is provided with transfer plates having long points 46', the dial needles 12' are surrounded by transfer plates having points 46 of intermediate length, and the dial needles 12" are provided with points which are extremely short and designated 46".

As will be understood, if a first course is knitted with the eyelet knitting sequence shown in FIGS. 22-25 and with all of the transfer plates projected so that only the points 46' extend far enough forward when the plates are projected to an intermediate distance to catch the fresh -1 yarn, then of the five pairs of cylinder needles 13 and 14 shown in FIG. 26, only the central pair will produce an eyelet stitch while the remaining cylinder needles will knit in conventional fashion. If a second course is knitted with the transfer plates projected to a greater extent so that all of the points 4-6 and 46' will engage the fresh yarn, then of the five pairs of cylinder needles 13 and 14, the central three pairs will produce eyelet stitches whereas the outer pairs will knit conventionally.

If a third course is then produced with the transfer plates projected sufiiciently to an intermediate extent so that all of the points 46, 46 and 46" will catch the fresh yarn, then all of the cylinder needles 1'3 and 14 will produce eyelet stitches.

As will now be evident, by the use of suitable camming to vary the extent of projection of the transfer plates to an intermediate extent, eyelet stitches can be produced in patterns to thereby provide a valuable knitted product.

Referring to FIGS. 27 and 28, a modified needle and transfer plate combination in accordance with the invention is illustrated. As can be seen, the needle 60 is formed with an elevated forward portion 61 which provides a space 62 for receiving the points 64 of the transfer plates 63. As a result of this construction, the points 64 can spring together sooner and begin to close beneath the forward portion 61 of the needle 60. This is of value in the production of eyelet stitches when the points of the transfer plates must move between adjacent cylinder needles, as shown in FIG. 22, and it is desirable that the points be as close together as possible. The early closing of the points 64 is shown with particular clarity in FIG. 28.

FIGS. 27 and 28 also show the presence on the needle 6% of a modified rib 65 which includes a shoulder portion 66 which can catch the yarn loop as described hereinbefore.

The present invention, therefore, provides a plurality of new and valuable improvements. First, knitting machines can be provided capable of producing centered rib and jersey automatically with the jersey knitting including a sinker action despite the absence of racking mechanism or speed-reducing mechanism. Second, knitting machines can be provided which are adapted to produce rib, jersey or eyelet stitches and even eyelet stitches in spaced apart patterns. Further, the transfer operation itself is performed safely at high speeds and this per se is an important advance in the art. Still further, knitting in accordance with the invention is performed using needles of normal configuration instead of special needles capable of performing a transfer operation.

As is well known in the art, there is always the danger that needles will become worn or damaged and require replacement. These special needles are costly and the present invention, by dispensing with the necessity for using costly knitting needles, reduces the cost of maintaining and operating the knitting machine. Thus, if a given needle becomes damaged, in accordance with the invention this needle is replaced but the transfer plates which are not damaged can be retained and used with the new needle.

It will be appreciated that various modifications can be made without departing from the invention which is defined in the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A knitting needle having a body portion leading to a forward extremity of reduced elevation, a hook and a latch, said body of said needle being formed with a sidewardly projecting rib formed in the upper portion thereof adjacent said forward extremity of said needle, said rib projecting sidewardly from the body of said needle at both sides thereof.

2. In a knitting machine, the combination of a knitting needle with a pair of plates independent of said needle and positioned adjacent opposite sides of said needle in direct sliding engagement therewith, said plates each including a forward extremity engaging the sides of said needle and a sidewardly projecting bent portion defining an opening between the forward portions of said plates behind the forward extremities thereof, said bent portion carrying an upwardly projecting shoulder, said shoulder being positioned with the forward surface thereof contacting said bent portion at a point which is laterally spaced from the adjacent side of said needle, said needle being provided with a sidewardly projecting rib positioned near the forward end of the body thereof, said rib overlying said plates.

3. The combination recited in claim 2 in which the forward extremity of said plates is constituted by a pointed portion positioned to engage the lower portion of the side of said needle, the rear of said pointed portion being bent outwardly away from said needle.

4. The combination recited in claim 2 in which said transfer plates are constituted by thin spring members.

5. The combination recited in claim 2 in which said transfer plates are slightly curved along their length so that the ends of said plates can contact said needle when the central portion of said plates is slightly spaced from said needle so that when the sides of said plates are forced against said needle, the points of said plates will firmly engage said needle and so that when said plates are extended beyond said needle, said points will extend to a position more closely spaced than the width of said needle.

6. A method of transferring a yarn loop from an independently movable longitudinally reciprocable slidingly mounted first needle in a first needle bed to a cooperating needle of a second needle bed compirsing projecting said first needle sufficiently to cause said yarn loop to be cast off the latch of said first needle, further projecting said first needle to spread said yarn loop, further spreading and projecting said yarn loop by independently movable means positioned adjacent said first needle, removing said first needle from within said yarn loop, projecting said cooperating needle through said spread loop without contacting said movable means with said cooperating needle and withdrawing said independently movable means from Within said yarn loop.

7. A method of transferring a yarn loop from an independently movable longitudinally reciprocable slidingly mounted first needle in a first needle bed to a cooperating needle of a second needle bed comprising positioning a pair of plates adjacent opposite sides of said first needle, at least one of said plates including a bent portion defimng an opening between the forward portions of said plates, said bent portion including stop means for limitmg the rearward movement of said yarn loop with respect to said bent portion, projecting said first needle sufficiently to cause said yarn loop to be cast off the latch of said first needle, further projecting said first needle to spread said yarn loop, projecting said pair of plates to spread said yarn loop and move said spread yarn forwardly past said cooperating needle, retracting said first needle out of the path of said cooperating needle, projecting said cooperating needle through said spread loop and said opening and retracting said transfer plates.

8. A method of transferring a yarn loop from an independently movable longitudinally reciprocable slidingly mounted first needle in a first needle bed to a cooperating needle of a second needle bed comprising positioning a pair of plates adjacent opposite sides of said first needle, said plates each including a forward extremity engaging the sides of said first needle and a bent portion defining an opening between the forward portions of said plates, said bent portions including shoulder means for limiting the rearward movement of said yarn loop with respect to said bent portions, projecting said first needle sufficiently to cause said yarn loop to be cast off the latch of said first needle, further projecting said first needle to spread said yarn loop, projecting said pair of plates to cause the forward extremities thereof to enter said yarn loop, further projecting said pair of plates to move said yarn loop over said bent portion until said loop engages said shoulder means to thereby spread said loop, still further projecting said pair of plates to project said spread loop past the path of said cooperating needle, retracting said first needle to remove the same from Within said loop, projecting said cooperating needle through said loop and retracting said transfer plates.

9. A method of transferring a yarn loop from an independently movable longitudinally reciprocable slidingly mounted first needle in a first needle bed to a directly opposed needle of a cooperating needle bed comprising positioning a pair of plates adjacent opposite sides of said first needle, said plates each including a forward extremity engaging the sides of said first needle and a bent portion defining an opening between the forward portions of said plates behind the forward extremities thereof, said bent portions including upwardly projecting shoulder means for limiting the rearward movement of said yarn loop with respect to said bent portions, projecting said first needle sufficiently to cause said yarn loop to be cast off the latch of said first needle, further projecting said first needle to spread said yarn loop, projecting said pair of plates to cause the forward extremities thereof to enter said yarn loop, further projecting said pair of plates to move said yarn loop over said bent portions until said loop engages said shoulder to thereby spread said loop, still further projecting said pair of plates to project said spread loop beyond the path of the hook of said directly opposed needle, retracting said first needle to remove the same from the path of said directly opposed needle, projecting said directly opposed needle through said loop and retracting said transfer plates.

10. In combination, a needle bed having a plurality of needle channels formed therein, knitting needles positioned for longitudinally sliding movement Within said channels, a pair of plates independent of said needles and positioned within said channel for longitudinal sliding movement therein, each of said plates being interposed between one side of said needle and said needle channel and forced into sliding engagement with said needle by said needle channel, said plates each including a forward extremity engaging the sides of the needle adjacent thereto and a sidewardly projecting portion defining an opening between the forward portions of said plates behind the forward extremities thereof, said sidewardly projecting portions carrying an upwardly projecting shoulder, said shoulder being positioned with the forward surface thereof contacting said sidewardly projecting portion at a point laterally spaced from the adjacent side of said needle, and said needle channel having a forward end of increased width to receive said sidewardly projecting portions of said plates, said needles being provided with sidewardly projecting ribs positioned near the forward end of the body of the needles, said ribs overlying said plates.

11. A knitting machine comprising at least two cooperating needle banks having a plurality of needle channels therein, one of said needle banks having a full complement of longitudinally reciprocable needles slidingly mounted in the channels thereof, the second of said needle banks having longitudinally reciprocable needles slidingly mounted in at least every alternate needle channel thereof, a pair of plates independent of said needles positioned within each of said alternate channels for longitudinal sliding movement therein, each "of said pair of plates being interposed between opposite sides of said needles in said alternate channels and said alternate channels and forced into sliding engagement with said needles by said alternate channels, said plates each including a forward extremity engaging the sides of the needle adjacent thereto and a sidewardly projecting portion defining an opening between the forward portions of said plates behind the forward extremities thereof, said sidewardly projecting portions carrying an upwardly projecting shoulder, said shoulder being positioned with the forward surface thereof contacting said sidewardly projecting portion at a point laterally spaced from the adjacent side of said needle and said alternate channel having a forward end of increased width to receive said sidewardly projecting portions of said plates, the needle of said needle bank having sidewardly projecting ribs positioned near the forward end of the body of said needles, said ribs overlying said plates.

12. A knitting machine as recited in claim 11 in which said needle channels of said cooperating needle banks are in direct opposition with respect to one another and the sidewardly projecting portions of each of said pair of plates define an opening sufficiently wide to receive a single needle and sufficiently narrow to avoid interfering with alternate needles of said needle bank having a full complement of needles.

13. A circular knitting machine comprising at least two cooperating circular needle banks having a plurality of needle channels therein, one of said needle banks having a full complement of longitudinally reciprocable needles slidingly mounted in the channels thereof, the second of said needle banks having longitudinally reciprocable needles slidingly mounted in alternate channels thereof, said needle banks being positioned with respect to one another so that the needles mounted in said alternate channels are directly opposite alternate needles of said full complement of needles, a plurality of pairs of plates with one pair of plates positioned within each of said alternate channels with each of the plates of said pairs of plates being interposed between opposite sides of the needles in said alternate channels and said alternate channels, said plates being mounted for independent sliding movement within said alternate channels, said plates each including a forward extremity engaging the sides of the needle adjacent thereto and a sidewardly projecting portion defining an opening between the forward portions of said plates behind the forward extremities thereof, each of said sidewardly projecting portions carrying an upwardly projecting shoulder, said shoulder being positioned with the forward surface thereof contacting the sidewardly projecting portion carrying the same at a point laterally spaced from the adjacent side of the needle in the same channel therewith, said alternate channels having a forward end of increased width to receive said sidewardly projecting portions of said plates, and the opening defined by said sidewardly projecting portions of each of said pair of plates being sufliciently wide to receive a single needle and sufficiently narrow to avoid interfering with alternate needles of said needle bank having a full complement of needles, the needle of said needle bank having sidewardly projecting ribs positioned near the forward end of the body of said needles, said ribs overlying said plates.

14. A circular knitting machine comprising at least two cooperating circular needle banks having a plurality of needle channels therein, one of said needle banks having a full complement of longitudinally reciprocable needles slidingly mounted in the channels thereof, the second of said needle banks having longitudinally reciprocable needles slidingly mounted in alternate channels thereof, said needle banks being laterally movable with respect to one another from a first position in which the needles of said cooperating needle banks are in a directly opposed position to a second position in which the needles of said cooperating needle banks are staggered with respect to one another, a plurality of pairs of plates with one pair of plates positioned within each of said alternate channels with each of the plates of said pairs of plates being interposed between opposite sides of the needles in said alternate channels and said alternate channels, said plates being mounted for independent sliding movement within said alternate channels, said plates each including a forward extremity engaging the sides of the needle adjacent thereto and a sidewardly projecting por tion defining an opening between the forward portions of said plates behind the forward extremities thereof, each of said sidewardly projecting portions carrying an upwardly projecting shoulder, said shoulder being positioned with the forward surface thereof contacting the sidewardly projecting portion carrying the same at a point laterally spaced from the adjacent side of the needle in the same channel therewith, said alternate channels having a forward end of increased width to receive said sidewardly projecting portions of said plates, and the opening defined by said sidewardly projecting portions of each of said pair of plates being sufficiently wide to receive a pair of adjacent needles in said needle bank having a full complement of needles when the needles of said cooperating needle banks are in staggered position.

15. A knitting machine comprising at least two cooperating needle banks having a plurality of needle channels therein, one of said needle banks having a full complement of longitudinally reciprocable needles slidingly mounted in the channels thereof, the second of said needle banks having longitudinally reciprocable needles slidingly mounted in alternate needle channels thereof, a pair of plates independent of said needles positioned within each of said alternate channels for longitudinal sliding movement therein, each of said pair of plates being interposed between opposite sides of said needles in said alternate channels and said alternate channels and forced into sliding engagement with said needles by said alternate channels, said plates each including a forward extremity engaging the sides of the needle adjacent thereto and a sidewardly projecting portion defining an opening between the forward portions of said plates behind the forward extremities thereof, said pairs of plates in said various alternate channels having forward extremities of different lengths whereby the forward extremities of some of said pairs of plates will project further forward of the forward extremities of others of said pairs of plates when said pairs of plates are projected a given distance, said sidewardly projecting portions carrying an upwardly projecting shoulder, said shoulder being positioned with the forward surface thereof contacting the sidewardly projecting portion on which it is carried at a point laterally spaced from the adjacent side of said needle, said opening defined between the forward portions of said plates 16 by said sidewardly projecting portions being sufficiently large to receive a pair of adjacent needles of said needle bank having a full complement of needles when the needles of said needle banks are staggered with respect to one another.

16. In a knitting machine, the combination of a knitting needle having an elevated forward portion with a pair of plates independent of said needle and positioned adjacent opposite sides of said needle in direct sliding engagement therewith, said plates each including a forward extremity normally engaging the sides of said needle behind said elevated forward portion, said plates having a tendency to spring toward said needle so that the forward extremity of said plates will move together beneath said elevated forward portion of said needle, said plates also including a sidewardly projecting bent portion defining an opening between the forward portions of said plates behind the forward extremities thereof, said bent portion carrying an upwardly projecting shoulder positioned with the forward surface thereof contacting said bent portion at a point laterally spaced from the adjacent side of said needle.

17. A knitting needle as recited in claim 1 in which the body of said needle below and to the rear of said rib has a substantially uniform thickness.

18. In combination, a needle bed having a plurality of needle channels formed therein, knitting needles positioned for longitudinal sliding movement within said channels, a pair of plates independent of said needles and positioned within said channel for longitudinal sliding movement therein, each of said plates being interposed between one side of said needle and said needle channel and forced into sliding engagement with said needle by said needle channel, said plates each including a forward extremity engaging the sides of the needle adjacent thereto and a sidewardly projecting portion defining an opening between the forward portions of said plates behind the forward extremities thereof, said sidewardly projecting portions carrying an upwardly projecting shoulder, said shoulder being positioned with the forward surface thereof contacting said sidewardly projecting portion at a point laterally spaced from the adjacent side of said needle, and said needle channel having a forward end of increased width to receive said sidewardly projecting portions of said plates, the central portion along the length of said plates being of reduced height and positioned directly adjacent the lower portion of the side of said needle, said needle being provided with a rib projecting sidewardly from both sides thereof, said rib being positioned near the forward end of the body of said needle and overlying said central portion of said plates to slidingly engage the upper surface thereof and prevent the points of said plates from rising with respect to said needle, said forward end of said needle channel being of increased width to receive said rib.

19. A knitting machine comprising at least two cooperating needle banks having a plurality of needle channels therein, one of said needle banks having a full complement of longitudinally reciprocable needles slidingly mounted in the channels thereof, the second of said needle banks having longitudinally reciprocable needles slidingly mounted in at least every alternate needle channel thereof, a pair of plates independent of said needles positioned within each of said alternate channels for longitudinal sliding movement therein, each of said pair of plates being interposed between opposite sides of said needles in said alternate channels and said alternate channels and forced into sliding engagement with said needles by said alternate channels, said plates each including a forward extremity engaging the sides of the needle adjacent thereto and a sidewardly projecting portion defining an opening between the forward portions of said plates behind the forward extremities thereof, said sidewardly projecting portions carrying an upwardly projecting shoulder, said shoulder being positioned with the forward surface thereof contacting said sidewardly projecting portion at a point laterally spaced from the adjacent side of said needle and said alternate channel having a forward end of increased width to receive said sidewardly projecting portions of said plates, the central portion along the length of said plates being of reduced height and positioned directly adjacent the lower portion of the side of said needle, said needle being provided with a rib projecting sidewardly from both sides thereof, said rib being positioned near the forward end of the body of said needle and overlying said central portion of said plates to slidingly engage the upper surface thereof and prevent the points of said plates from rising with respect to said needle, said forward end of said needle channel being of increased width to receive said rib.

20. A knitting machine comprising at least two cooperating needle banks having a plurality of needle channels therein, one of said needle banks having a full complement of longitudinally reciprocable needles slidingly mounted in the channels thereof, the second of said needle banks having longitudinally reciprocable needles slidingly mounted in alternate needle channels thereof, a plate independent of said needles positioned within each of said alternate channels for longitudinal sliding movement therein, said plates being forced into sliding engagement with said needles by said alternate channels, said plates each including a forward extremity engaging the side of the needle adjacent thereto and a sidewardly projecting portion defining an opening between the forward portion of said plate behind the forward extremity thereof and the plane of said plate, said plates in said various alternate channels having forward extremities of different lengths whereby the forward extremities of some of said plates will project further forward of the forward extremities of others of said plates when said plates are projected a given distance, said sidewardly projecting portions carrying an upwardly projecting shoulder, said shoulder being positioned with the forward surface thereof contacting the sidewardly projecting portion on which it is carried at a point laterally spaced from the adjacent side of said needle, said opening being sufficiently large to receive a needle of said needle bank having a full complement of needles when the needles of said needle banks are staggered with respect to one another.

21. The combination recited in claim 16 in which said needle is provided with an abutting shoulder to catch a yarn loop and prevent the loop from riding rearwardly past said shoulder.

22. A knitting needle as recited in claim 1 in which the body of said needle is provided with an abutting shoulder adjacent said rib to catch a yarn loop and prevent said loop from riding rearwardly over the needle past said rib.

23. A knitting needle having a body portion leading to a forward extremity of reduced elevation, the bottom of said forward extremity being elevated above the bottom of said body portion, a hook and a latch, said body portion of said needle being formed with a sidewardly projecting rib formed in the upper surface thereof, said rib projecting sidewardly from the body of said needle at both sides thereof.

24. In the operation of a knitting machine comprising at least two cooperating needle banks having a plurality of needle channels therein, one of said needle banks having a full complement of longitudinally reciprocable needles slidingly mounted in the channels thereof and the second of said needle banks having longitudinally reciprocable needles slidingly mounted in alternate needle channels thereof with a pair of plates independent of said needles positioned within each of said alternate channels for longitudinal sliding movement therein, each of said pair of plates surrounding the vneedles in alternate channels on opposite sides thereof,

said plates being movable independent of said needles '18 constituting the forward extremity of said plates and a sidewardly projecting portion defining an opening between the forward portions of said plates behind the points thereof, the method of selectively producing eyelet stitches with only some of said pairs of plates comprising equally projectingall of said pairs of plates, supplying yarn to said full complement of needles, retracting said needles while engaging said yarn by the forward extremities of selected pairs of said plates and then moving all of said pairs of plates and said full complement of needles through an eyelet knitting sequence whereby the pair of adjacent needles of said full complement of needles opposite said pairs of plates whose extremities engaged said yarn will produce an eyelet stitch while the remaining needles of said full complement of needles which are opposite pairs of plates whose extremities did not engage said yarn will knit a single course of jersey fabric.

25. In the operation of a knitting machine comprising at least two cooperating needle banks having a plurality of needle channels therein, one of said needle banks having a full complement of longitudinally reciprocable needles slidingly mounted in the channels thereof and the second of said needle banks having longitudinally reciprocable needles mounted in alternate needle channels thereof with a pair of plates independent of said needles positioned within each of said alternate channels for longitudinal sliding movement therein, each of said pairs of plates surrounding the needles in alternate channels on opposite sides thereof, said plates being movable independent of said needles and each plate including a forwardly projected pointed portion constituting the forward extremity of said plates and a sidewardly projecting portion defining an opening between the forward portions of said plates behind the points thereof, said opening being sufliciently large to receive a pair of adjacent needles of said needle banks having a full complement of needles when said needle banks are staggered with respect to one another, the method of transferring a yarn loop from a needle in said second needle bank to a directly opposed needle of said first needle bank comprising projecting the needle carrying said yarn loop, projecting the pair of plates surrounding said needle to spread said yarn loop, removing said needle from Within needle banks with respect to the other to a position where- .in the needles of said second bank are staggered with respect to the cooperating needles of the other bank, retaining in the retracted position the needle between said pair of plates, and utilizing said pair of plates as transfer plates in an eyelet knitting sequence.

26. In a knitting machine, the combination of a knitting needle with a pair of plates independent of said needle and positioned adjacent opposite sides of said needle in direct sliding engagement therewith, said plates including a forward extremity engaging the sides of said needle, at least one of said plates having a sidewardly projecting bent portion defining an opening between the forward portion of said plates behind the forward extremities thereof, said bent portion carrying an upwardly projecting shoulder, said shoulder being positioned with the forward surface thereof contacting said bent portion at a point which is laterally spaced from the adjacent side of said needle, said needle being provided with a sidewardly projecting rib positioned near the forward end of the body thereof, said rib overlying the central portion of said plates.

27. In a knitting machine, the combination of a knitting needle with at least one plate independent of said needle and positioned adjacent the side of said needle in direct sliding engagement therewith, said plate including a forward extremity engaging the side of said needle and a sidewardly projecting bent portion defining an opening between the side of said needle and the forward portion of said plate behind the forward extremity thereof, said bent portion carrying an upwardly projecting shoulder, said shoulder being positioned with the forward surface thereof contacting said bent portion at a point which is laterally spaced from the adjacent side of said needle, said needle being provided with a sidewardly projecting rib positioned near the forward end of the body thereof, said rib overlying the central portion of said plate.

28. In a knitting machine, the combination of a knitting needle with a pair of plates independent of said needle and positioned adjacent therewith, said plates each including a forward extremity engaging the sides of said needle and a sidewardly projecting bent portion defining an opening between the forward portions of said plates behind the forward extremities thereof, said bent portion carrying an upwardly projecting shoulder, said shoulder being positioned with the forward surface thereof contacting said bent portion at a point which is laterally spaced from the adjacent side of said needle, the central portion along the length of said plates being of reduced height and positioned directly adjacent the lower portion of the side of said needle, said needle being provided with a sidewardly projecting rib positioned near the forward end of the body thereof, said rib overlying said central portion of said plates to slidingly engage the upper surface thereof and prevent the points of said plates from rising with respect to said needle.

29. A knitting machine comprising at least two cooperating needle banks having a plurality of needle channels therein, one of said needle banks having a full complement of longitudinally reciprocable needles slidingly mounted in the channels thereof, the second of said needle banks having longitudinally reciprocable needles slidingly mounted in at least every alternate needle channel thereof, a pair of plates independent of said needles positioned with each of said alternate channels for longitudinal sliding movement therein, each of said pair of plates being interposed between opposite sides of said needles in said alternate channels and said alternate channels and forced into sliding engagement with said needles by said alternate channels, said plates each including a forward extremity engaging the sides of the needle adjacent thereto and a sidewardly projecting portion defining an opening between the forward portions of said plates behind the forward extremities thereof, said sidewardly projecting portions carrying an upwardly projecting shoulder, said shoulder being positioned with the forward surface thereof contacting said sidewardly projecting portion at a point laterally spaced from the adjacent side of said needle and said alternate channel having a forward end of increased width to receive said sidewardly projecting portions of said plates, and means to laterally move said needle banks a distance of onehalf the distance between adjacent needles on said needle bank having a full complement of needles, the sidewardly projecting portions of each of said pair of plates defining an opening snfiiciently wide to receive a pair of adjacent needles on said needle bank having a full complement of needles when said last named needles are staggered with respect to the needles of said second needle bank.

30. In a knitting machine, the combination of a knitting needle with a pair of plates independent of said needle and positioned adjacent opposite sides of said needle in direct sliding engagement therewith, said plates each including a forward extremity engaging the sides of said needle and a sidewardly projecting bent portion defining an opening between the forward portions of said plates behind the forward extremities thereof, said bent portion carrying an upwardly projecting shoulder, said shoulder being positioned with the forward surface thereof contacting said bent portion at a point which is later- 20 ally spaced from the adjacent side of said needle, the central portion along the length of said plates being of reduced height and positioned directly adjacent the lower portion of the side of said needle, said needle being provided with a sidewardly projecting rib positioned near the forward end of the body thereof, said rib overlying said forward extremity of said plates and functioning to spread the yarn loop which is on the needle upon projection of the needle to facilitate entry of the points of said plates into said yarn loop.

31. In a knitting machine, the combination of a knitting needle having an elevated forward portion with a pair of plates independent of said needle and positioned adjacent opposite sides of said needle in direct sliding engagement therewith, said plates each including a forward extremity normally engaging the sides of said needle behind said elevated forward portion, said plates having a tendency to spring toward said needle so that the forward extremity of said plates will move together beneath said elevated forward portion of said needle, said plates also including a sidewardly projecting bent portion defining an opening between the forward portions of said plates behind the forward extremities thereof, said bent portion carrying an upwardly projecting shoulder positioned with the forward surface thereof contacting said bent portion at a point laterally spaced from the adjacent side of said needle, the central portion along the length of said plates being of reduced height and positioned directly adjacent the lower portion of the side of said needle, said needle being provided with a rib projecting sidewardly from both sides thereof, said rib overlying said central portion of said plates to slidingly engage the upper surface thereof and prevent the points of said plates from rising with respect to said needle.

32. In a knitting machine, the combination of a knitting needle with at least one plate independent of said needle and positioned adjacent the side of said needle in direct sliding engagement therewith, said plate including a forward extremity engaging the side of said needle and a sidewardly projecting bent portion defining an opening between the side of said needle and the forward portion of said plate behind the forward extremity thereof, said bent portion carrying an upwardly projecting shoulder, said shoulder being positioned with the forward surface thereof contacting said bent portion at a point which is laterally spaced from the adjacent side of said needle, the central portion along the length of said plate being of reduced height and positioned directly adjacent the lower portion of the side of said needle, said needle being provided with a sidewardly projecting rib positioned near the forward end of said body thereof, said rib overlying said central portion of said plate.

33. A method of knitting utilizing a knitting machine comprising opposed needle banks having independently movable longitudinally reciprocable needles slidingly mounted in needle channels therein with the channels of one of said opposed needle banks having a full complement of needles and with alternate channels of the other of said needle banks having needles mounted therein with the needles of said alternate channels directly opposing alternate needles of said first-named needle bank, each needle in said alternate channels being surrounded with a pair of independently movable plates having a forward portion projecting sidewardly to define an opening between the forward portion of said plates, said opening being sufliciently wide to receive the directly opposed needle of said first-named needle bank and being sutficiently narrow so that the needles adjacent said directly opposed needle do not strike said sidewardly projecting portions of said plates, said method comprising knitting with said needles of said first-named needle bank while utilizing said plates to effect a sinker action, said sinker action being effected by the steps of projecting a pair of said plates while the needle therebetween is maintained in a retracted position, continuing projection of said pair of plates until said opening overlies the directly opposed needle of said first-named needle bank, then projecting said directly opposed needle through said opening so that said plates efiect the sinker action and then retracting said plates before said plates can interfere with the knitting action of the needles of said firstnamed needle bank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Ingaills Mar. 15, 1932 Swinglehurst May 30, 1933 Ingalls Sept. 7, 1937 Wigley Jan. 23, 1940 Lawson et a1. Apr. 30, 1940 

